Patricia Martinez, left, and her partner, Lisa Ann Golden, who were married in Canada in 2004, sued Monroe Community College for partner benefits.

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The state's highest court Tuesday sent back to a lower court a case involving whether Monroe County has to recognize a marriage between two women, leaving the county to determine whether to continue its appeal challenging same-sex marriage.

The Court of Appeals refused to hear the case of Patricia Martinez, an employee of Monroe Community College, who sued the county after it refused to grant benefits to Martinez's female partner, Lisa Ann Golden, whom she married in Canada in 2004.

The state Supreme Court ruled initially that they were not entitled to benefits, but that was overturned 5-0 ...